Painting Lesson Learned

[Jaclyn B.]

I recently purchased my first buy and hold investment. The house was in pretty decent shape. The seller wanted out quickly and so they agreed to provide funds for some needed repairs that came up during the inspection period. When I first saw the house it was pretty clear that the walls desperately needed a coat of paint. I had planned to do the painting myself. I've painted my personal residences several times and have pretty much got the basics down. No biggy, it's just paint.

Boy was I wrong. The walls had a few cracks that the previous owner had spackled over (but not yet painted). However, the previous owner spackled GOBS of spackle over the cracks, which all needed to be sanded down. I'm talking inch thick mounds of spackle  in multiple areas/rooms. After spending a whole day trying to scrub the walls clean (they were also very dirty) and then getting nowhere hand sanding piles of spackle, I gave up. This one is better left to the pros. 

So now I have three painting companies coming by the house to give me a painting quote which is an expense I hadn't counted on. Live and learn. 

[Mike M.]

What will you negotiate against without another offer in hand?

Is whatever you think you can save in negotiation worth the risk of losing the only outfit that's even bothered to put a workscope together?

Saving 10% on a $100K house is worth the effort and risk. Saving $300 bucks on a $3K paint job? Depends on how much time and aggravation it's worth to you.